Best things to do in Adelaide

Walk from the Adelaide city center to discover the urban oasis that is the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Once here, visit the Palm House, a Victorian glasshouse containing Malagasy arid plant life. Enter the fragrant National Rose Trial Garden to see the different rose varieties that can grow in the local climate. Stand in the curvilinear-glass Bicentennial Conservatory and observe a delicate ecosystem including noisy pittas birds, spiders, and centipedes. Make sure you also stop by First Creek Wetland, a relatively recent addition, where you can learn about the importance of wetlands to urban environments.

Gaze at over 1,800 animals covering more than 300 species at Adelaide Zoo. Australia's second oldest zoo and the only major city zoo running as a nonprofit offers exhibits of wildlife from four continents. At Immersion, walk through Southeast Asian jungle and come practically face-to-face with Sumatran Tigers and Orangutans. A behind-the-scenes tour brings you up close with a range of animals and into normally off-limits areas. Pay special attention to the former Elephant House and the entrance on Frome Road; both of these are on the National Trust of South Australia's architectural heritage list.

One of the country’s most iconic sporting venues, Adelaide Oval holds an elevated status as the home of cricket and Australian rules football in South Australia. Imposing and white-roofed, the stadium towers above the leafy suburb of North Adelaide. Constructed in 1871, the 2012 redevelopment of Adelaide Oval brought the historic stadium in line with the modern demands of large sporting venues. The stadium often hosts concerts, with artists such as Elton John, Madonna, and Fleetwood Mac having performed there.

Adelaide Central Market is one of the world's oldest indoor markets and has become South Australia's most visited tourist attraction. The 140-year-old market sells fresh produce and a range of other goods, and offers inexpensive multilevel parking. At this "Heart of Adelaide," as the locals call it, you can purchase fruit and vegetables, cheese, breads, flowers, candy, and a variety of delicacies from a number of cultures found across Australia. Be sure to visit one of many popular cafes and restaurants. The market is easily accessible, clean, and well lit. Chinatown, another major tourist attraction, is connected to this market.

Established in 1881, Art Gallery of South Australia houses Australia's second largest art collection, nearly 35,000 articles including works by some of the world's most prominent artists. Notable items include pieces created by indigenous artists, as well as works by Pre-Raphaelite masters, such as William Holman Hunt and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Also represented are important works of the Heidelberg school, European landscape artists, and British portrait painters. Step in to see paintings by Goya and sculptures by Rodin or drop in to attend free lectures, seminars, and workshops. The gallery hosts a number of visiting exhibitions every year.

Situated in the heart of the city and considered South Australia's premier retail center, Rundle Mall is a pedestrian-only shopping strip featuring over 800 stores. The mall is home to many large Australian retailers and a number of smaller independent and chain stores. Several arcades and plazas, containing smaller boutiques and eateries, can also be accessed from this popular strip. Spend time shopping here or drop in to see some notable items of modern sculpture, such as a 4-m (13-ft) piece commonly referred to as "The Mall's Balls," created by the prominent visual artist Bert Flugelman.

A large national park just 20 minutes from the city center, Cleland Wildlife Park offers visitors a chance to get up-close and personal with Australia's native fauna. You can feed most animals at this site, or wander at you leisure among kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and waterfowl. There are several displays of dingoes, reptiles, wombats, and koalas, as well as large aviaries housing a variety of native birds. The park is home to a few endangered species, such the bush stone-curlew and bush-tailed bettong. Be sure to advantage of the rare opportunity to be photographed holding a koala, under supervision from the park's wildlife officers. Park facilities include a souvenir shop, cafe, and toilets.

Learn about wine-making through interactive exhibitions at National Wine Centre of Australia. The public exhibition building displays the technology and wine varieties used to make wine. There are wine tasting areas looking onto the botanic gardens. Walk outside the building that resembles a wine barrel to see grapevines.

Find serenity in Adelaide at the Himeji Garden. Japanese sister city, Himeji, presented the gardens as a gift in 1982, and landscape architect Yoshitaka Kumada visited a few years later to upgrade the layout and bring the design into line with the principles of a traditional Japanese. Take a self-guided tour of the sansui mountain and lake garden and of the karensansui dry rock garden. Try to arrive early if you want the gardens to yourself, and don't forget your camera.

Founded in 1856, South Australian Museum houses the world's largest collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural artifacts as well as several permanent galleries, including ones showcasing Australian biodiversity and the richness of Pacific cultures. The museum is part of a complex of buildings in the cultural precinct of the Adelaide Parklands, where you can also visit the Art Gallery of South Australia and the Mortlock Library. Join a guided tour to learn about this country's artistic and cultural heritage or roam the museum's numerous free exhibits on your own. The food kiosk offers indoor or outdoor seating, hot meals, and cold drinks.